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How to TravelWhile a ten-state trip may be daunting to travelers, the variety and uniqueness of the region makes for a great adventure! There’s so much to see and do that it may take several trips to take it all in! Use these ideas when planning your trip to any combination of the ten Mississippi River states.
Decide what activities, attractions, or events you want to experience. The possibilities are endless as you’re traveling in and around the Mississippi River region. Here are just a few trip ideas for you to use as you’re making your travel plans. Travel Tip: These are just a selection of experiences that await you in the Mississippi River region; there are many, many more! Keep browsing our website for details, and be sure to use the Travel Planner on our website to help create your itinerary! Sports Galore
There’s something for all sports fans along and beyond the Mississippi River. Each season has a sport to choose from…during the summer, enjoy baseball in all ten states; many states have at least one professional team. The World Series goes into the fall, just as the football season is getting underway. You may also want to take in a hockey or basketball – both men’s and women’s – during the winter. Start your trip in Chicago, IL for a Bears football game and maybe a Cubs or White Sox baseball game if they’re in season. Extend your stay and jet down to St. Louis, MO for a Cardinals baseball game or a Rams football game.
Shopping Spree
A great getaway for mothers and daughters, a group of friends or a family is a shopping spree along or beyond the Mississippi River! Look for treasures in the small boutiques that dot the region in small towns and cities alike, and plan to spend a day at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN – a must-stop for shoppers!
Golfing Getaway
Golfing is a great excuse for a trip. Whether it’s an escape for men, an outing for girlfriends or a stop during a family vacation, there’s a course for everyone and every trip in the Mississippi River region. Start with the Arkansas golf trail and extend your trip to Louisiana and Mississippi where golfers can get on the course all year long!
Outdoor Recreation
The Mississippi River region has a little bit of everything for those looking for outdoor recreation. Hunting, fishing, hiking, biking…the region has it all! Try fishing in Wisconsin during the fall, when it’s less crowded and still has great fishing, in Racine, Sheboygan, or Door County. For the more adventurous (or budget-conscious) traveler, spend your vacation camping under the stars in a string state parks in the ten states!
Adventure From spelunking to kayaking, adventure seekers should expect the unexpected in the Mississippi River region. Start your trip in Missouri, where there are 6,000 caves to choose from. Stop in Kentucky to visit one of the world’s longest cave systems, Mammoth Cave, and extend your stay to Arkansas for more caves, and rock climbing in the Ozark Mountains. Travel Tip: In the travel planner, you can narrow your search by searching by attraction, state, and city. Use the “keyword/s” box on the Attractions and Events page like you would any other search engine. For example, if you are looking for shopping in Nashville, type this into the “keyword/s” box: shopping, Nashville. Decide how to travel around the Mississippi River region. If you’re like most people visiting our region, your vacation may be a long weekend, one week or, if you’re really lucky, a full two weeks. Either way, this ten-state region isn’t one that most travelers can take in all in one trip. Since you can’t see it all the first time, here are some ways to break up your trip to ensure a real Mississippi River Experience. Travel Tip: Don’t limit your travel options to this list. Be innovative as you’re planning your trip! Though you may have to travel by plane or private automobile to get here, once you are, consider a river cruise, a train tour, or public transportation. Bordering States
One of the best ways to travel through the region is to choose an itinerary that includes a number of bordering states. Start at the beginning, the end or the middle of the Mississippi River as you experience two, three, four, five states at a time! For one trip, try starting in Kentucky, traveling through Tennessee and ending in Mississippi. The states you can’t fit into your itinerary this year, you can visit during your next trip!
String of Cities
Whether you fly or drive, another way to Experience the Mississippi River region is to choose a string of cities. Maybe you’d like to visit the northern section of the river and travel from Duluth, MN; Eau Claire, WI; Madison, WI to Chicago, IL. Or start in Little Rock, AR and travel to Texarkana, AR; Shreveport, LA to Alexandria, LA—and maybe even on to Baton Rouge, LA!
Great River Road Experience
The Great River Road National Scenic Byway winds through all ten states on both sides of the Mississippi River. Take the 3,000-mile journey along the Great River Road to experience all the history and culture of the Mighty Mississippi. Use this map to plan your trip!
Charming River Towns
All along the Mississippi River, Minnesota River, Missouri River, Tennessee River, and many other rivers in the ten states are quaint river towns where history and culture abound. Visit Sabula, Dubuque and Harper’s Ferry, IA before continuing on to Prairie du Chien, Ferryville and La Crosse, WI. Use our website for a list of cities Along the Mississippi River. Request state maps from the ten states to choose the river cities for your trip itinerary.
Determine how you’re going to get from there to here. There isn’t just one way to travel the ten-state Mississippi River region. In fact, there are hundreds and hundreds of cities to visit, highways to drive, flights to take and paths to follow. There are so many that we can’t even begin to highlight each one of them. But, we can give you a few “How to’s” as you begin your travel planning. Here are some ways to get to and around the region. Travel Tip: Be sure to visit our Brochures & Maps page to request a Great River Road map as well as state maps from all the states you are traveling in and around to help you find your way! Fly / Drive
If you live outside the region, or even if you live in the region, you can start your trip by flying into one of our major cities: Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Memphis, TN; or New Orleans, LA just to name a few. Rental cars are available at all major airports, so you can continue your trip by driving along or beyond the beautiful Mississippi River.
Road Trip
For travelers who live in or near the region, start your trip by getting in your car and taking a drive! If you have a little time and a roadmap, you have what you need to Experience the sights and sounds of the Mississippi River.
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 The Great River Road was established in 1938 as the national parkway of the Mississippi River. Follow the green Pilot's Wheel road signs that mark its route nearly 3,000 miles through 10 states. |
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| The Mississippi River is a fishing hot spot! 241 fish species inhabit the Mississippi River and its tributaries! |
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| Riverside Park, near Cassville, Wisconsin, offers an awesome view of the River's activities. The natural shoreline provides the closest view of one of the most narrow areas of the Upper Mississippi River. It's "history in the making" to watch the enormous tows pushing barges pass each other with such precision. The park also provides children a chance to enjoy new playground equipment and families take advantage of the opportunity to have picnics and relax |
| Sheila N. - Cassville, WI |
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| Located in historic downtown Paducah, the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society lobby is adorned with beautiful stained glass windows in a variety of quilted patterns. You'll find more than 150 quilts on display; treasures not to be your “grandmas” quilts, but delicate works of art. |
| Marge B. - Frankfort, KY |
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